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Strong second half lifts Norfolk over SSU

NORFOLK, Va. — In a matchup of teams looking for their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win of 2012, the defending champion Norfolk State Spartans scored the game’s final 16 points on their way to a 33-21 victory over the Savannah State Tigers.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak as Norfolk State improved to 3-7 and 1-6 in the MEAC. The Tigers fell to 1-8 and 0-6 in conference. Savannah State, in its second straight year in the MEAC, has lost 13 straight conference games since beating North Carolina Central in its first game in the conference on Sept. 24, 2011.

Saturday’s game, in blustery, cool temperatures, featured three scoring runs: 1. Norfolk State built a 17-0 lead under 10 minutes into the game; 2. Savannah State rallied for three straight touchdowns to take a 21-17 lead late in the second quarter; and 3. Norfolk State put the game’s final 16 points on the board beginning with a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half.

During the Spartans’ game-opening assault, fullback Conley Smith scored on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, and Everett Goldberg added a 34-yard field goal to put NSU up 17-0 with 5:24 to play in the first quarter.

“We didn’t come out focused,” said Tigers’ head coach Steve Davenport. “We were emotionless coming out. You just can’t give a team a 17-0 lead and expect to be successful on most occasions. I’m proud of the kids for fighting back, but that’s a deep hole.”

Savannah State dominated the next 15 minutes, scoring 21 straight points to take a 21-17 lead with 4:06 to play in the first half. Quarterback Antonio Bostick tossed a 25-yard touchdown to Simon Heyward to begin the Tigers’ scoring. Later in the second quarter, after Bostick and Heyward hooked up for a pair of completions, Juwan “Bam-Bam” Smith-Arnold finished off a 71-yard touchdown drive by crashing through the line for his second touchdown in the last two weeks.

“We just executed on those drives — made throws, made catches and were able to get some stops on those guys,” Davenport said.

Cornerback Javon Moore put Savannah State in front by picking off a pass in the flat at midfield, and returning it down the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown.

Moore credited his preparation during the week for his interception. “We were watching film all week, I knew the halfback was going to come out, so I jumped it, picked it and went to the crib. I think the defensive end on that side (Terrance Williams) tipped it.”

Davenport liked Moore’s athleticism as well. “Just a great break on the play by Javon. He had an interception last week. He’s really coming into his own.”

After Moore’s interception, the Spartans controlled the game’s final act over the last 35 minutes. Norfolk State regained the lead on the final play of the first half. On fourth down and 2 from the Tiger 35-yard line, quarterback Nico Flores heaved a ball through the wind that wide receiver Xavier Boyce corralled, after a tip, on a scamble in the end zone for a 24-21 halftime lead.

The Spartans won the second half 9-0.

Norfolk State devised an answer for the Savannah State offense, holding the Tigers to 95 total yards, two interceptions and three punts on their five possessions in the second half.

Spartans’ head coach Pete Adrian noted that after halftime, his team changed how it handled the Tigers’ empty backfield.

“We made a couple of adjustments at halftime, particularly to take No. 8 (Heyward) away. That’s how we got a couple of sacks.”

Davnport pointed to the Tigers’ inability to handle the blitz, as well as a big factor in his team’s second half futility.

“To come out in the second half, and play as poorly as we did was disappointing. They made a ... decision to blitz us. We’ve gotta get the ball out of our hands at the quarterback position.”